Anhur

In early Egyptian mythology, Anhur (also spelled Onuris, Onouris, An-Her, Anhuret, Han-Her, Inhert) was originally a god of war who was worshipped in the Egyptian area of Abydos, and particularly in Thinis. Myths told that he had brought his wife, Menhit, who was his female counterpart, from Nubia, and his name reflects this—it means (one who) leads back the distant one.^[1]

One of his titles was Slayer of Enemies. Anhur was depicted as a bearded man wearing a robe and a headdress with four feathers, holding a spear or lance, or occasionally as a lion-headed god (representing strength and power). In some depictions, the robe was more similar to a kilt. ^[2]

Due to his position as a war god, he was patron of the ancient Egyptian army, and the personification of royal warriors. Indeed, at festivals honoring him, mock battles were staged. During the Roman era the Emperor Tiberius was depicted on the walls of Egyptian temples wearing the distinctive four-plumed crown of Anhur.

Anhur's name also could mean Sky Bearer and, due to the shared headdress, Anhur was later identified as Shu, becoming Anhur-Shu.

In the New Kingdom, his popularity increased and Anhur was also titled Saviour, becoming to the people their deliverer from human burden, due to their view of war as their source of freedom and victory. The aspects of war, and saviour, shared with Horus, contributed to Anhur's eventual identification with the much greater Horus. During the Egyptian period of dominance over Nubia, the Kushites named Horus-Anhur as Arensnuphis (also Arsnuphis, Harensnuphis), Ari-hes-nefer in Egyptian, meaning something along the lines of Horus of the beautiful house. Consequently once Osiris became identified as an aspect of Horus (and vice-versa), Arensnuphis was viewed as having Isis as his wife.

High Priests of Anhur

• Amenhotep, from the time of Thutmose IV. Amenhotep's wife Henut was a songstress of Anhur. Their sons Hat and Kenna were Chariot Warriors of His Majesty. Known froma stela now in the British Museum (EA 902).^[3]
• Hori ^[4]
• Minmose, son of the High Priest of Anhur Hori and his wife Inty. From the reign of Ramesses II. ^[4]
• Anhurmose, from the time of Merenptah. ^[4][5]
• Sishepset, from the time of Ramesses III ^[5]
• Harsiese, mentioned on an ostraca in Abydos ^[5]

References

1. ^ The Way to Eternity: Egyptian Myth, F. Fleming & A. Lothian, p. 56
2. ^ Turner and Coulter, Dictionary of ancient deities, 2001
3. ^ Topographical Bibliography Vol VIII, retrieved from Griffith Institute website May 2010
4. ^ ^{a b c} Kitchen, K.A., Rammeside Inscriptions, Translated & Annotated, Translations, Volume III, Blackwell Publishers, 1996
5. ^ ^{a b c} Porter and Moss Topographical Bibliography; Volume V Upper Egypt Griffith Institute

External links

• Iconography of Onuris (PDF; article)